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Topic Review (Newest First)

07-13-2012 08:50 PM

travlineasy

Re: Hourly rate for Brightwork

Quote:

Originally Posted by bljones

I'll take it!
Does that include the seniors discount?

Only if they like Jimmy Buffett songs.

Cheers,

Gary

07-12-2012 06:11 PM

bljones

Re: Hourly rate for Brightwork

Quote:

Originally Posted by travlineasy

I have a special rate, just for you - $250/hr

Cheers,

Gary

I'll take it!
Does that include the seniors discount?

07-12-2012 03:21 PM

Jeff_H

Re: Hourly rate for Brightwork

Back when I was more interested in and owned classic boats, by Dad and I owned a 1939 Stadel Cutter. The old girl was loaded with varnish. We basically set aside roughly a day a month to maintain her. That was all maintenance except the work more properly done during haul out. We could typically get by with 2 to 3 coats of varnish a year (and remember this was Florida) and could typically apply each coat on a little more than a day.

But we had it down to a science. Take the mast for example, sand the mast on the way up, tack the mast and spot sand holidays on the way down. Vaccuum or change your clothes while on deck. Final mast wipe on the way up, and apply the varnish on the way down. The horizontals at the head of the mast and tthe op of the spreaders were painted with white enamel.

And while I was doing the mast, my dad would be sanding the varnish on deck. I would help with that when I was on deck before de-dusting for the coat on the mast. The rules were that varnished needed to be applied at least 3 hours before sunset to avoid the dew, so you get the picture. It was rare that we had to apply varnish the next day but it was more likely to happen in fall than spring.

07-12-2012 01:27 PM

MarcHall

Re: Hourly rate for Brightwork

I take care of my own teak on a Crealock 37.

Last year stripped down most all of the external woodwork and laid in 10 coats of Epifanes. Took awhile but it looks great now.

One of the recommendations made by Rebecca Wittman in her excellent book "Brightwork, The Art of Finishing Wood" is that once you restored the brightwork is too cover it with a boat tent. Suggests the maintenance of the varnish can then be reduced to a once per year project of light sanding and 3 coats.

Have not built a tent but currently in the process of building covers made of Sunbrella for all the brightwork.

Marc Hall
Crazy Fish, Crealock 37, Hull 207

07-12-2012 12:29 PM

travlineasy

Re: Hourly rate for Brightwork

Quote:

Originally Posted by bljones

For $125/hr, you better be singing and playing a tune while finishing my teak!

I have a special rate, just for you - $250/hr

Cheers,

Gary

07-12-2012 11:20 AM

CharlieCobra

Re: Hourly rate for Brightwork

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjung

Thanks all for the input. It seems expectations with regards to hourly rates are pretty much across the board. I was sort of surprised to read that some think $70/ hr is acceptable for sanding and varnishing. To those who think DIY is an option, the quote was for 80 hrs, I think that might be a tad high, but at least 60 hrs are needed. Essentially, that could be 2weeks, and I would rather spend what little time off I can take this time of year sailing.
CharlieCobra seems to be able to survive and enjoy life at $40/hr just fine and does a nice job at that rate (from what I have seen here).
The comments about HHN are not deserved. I consider their yard rates reasonable and quality of work quite good. But they don't do brightwork.
Thanks for the pm's, I will check out the options.

We will be raising our rates to $ 50 Hr. at the first of the year to make sure we can continue to provide our services. While I'd love to be able to charge $70-90 Hr like the big boys, I cannot see that happening for the near future.

07-12-2012 10:20 AM

PorFin

Re: Hourly rate for Brightwork

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjung

The comments about HHN are not deserved. I consider their yard rates reasonable and quality of work quite good. But they don't do brightwork.

Hmm, exactly which comments that I made are undeserved? If you read them closely, you'll see that I said they do good work.

My only comment that could have been seen as negative was that a few folks I've encountered in the yard (and I spend a fair amount of time there, what with me being a retired guy with a boat problem) that were a bit disappointed with the outcome. Most folks are happy with the yard's services -- and I include myself in that group.

07-12-2012 10:17 AM

jsaronson

Re: Hourly rate for Brightwork

Moderator?

07-12-2012 09:55 AM

bljones

Re: Hourly rate for Brightwork

If you don't appreciate my input, feel free to ignore me.
I provided you another option, you just don't like it.

I ain't bitter, I do my own brightwork.

The remainder of this post has been edited at the request of the moderators. Those of you who know how to use the alert button should also know how to use the ignore button if you find posts that hit uncomfortably close to home.

07-12-2012 09:48 AM

bjung

Re: Hourly rate for Brightwork

Quote:

Originally Posted by bljones

Then expect to work four weeks to pay for it. Sorry, I have little sympathy for those who bitch about the price of labour to do a job they don't want to do.

Jonesy, I wasn 't bitching and certainly wasn't looking for your sympathy. I was looking for options to paying either $70/hr or quite frankly doing it myself. That is why I posted in Chesapeake Bay. You obviously don't sail here, Have a nice day!

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